Check writer and protector



May 18 1926. 1,585,130

F. J. STEPHENSON CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR Filed July 11 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bag. 1

INVENTOR If]. Ste 2726125010 BY QN.{. g NEY May 18 1926.

F. J. STEPHENSON CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR Filed July 11. 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 J. Ste fie 6725012 BY wwmml ATTORN EY May 18 1926. 1,585,130

J. STEPHENSON 7 CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR Fil y 11. 1925 7 Sheets Sheet 5 Jab-g3 INVENTOR 1? J5 Zeplz enson BY Q .LBAJL,

ATTORN EY May 18 1926. 1,585,130

' F. J. STEPHENSQN CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR File y 11 1925 7 heets- Sheet 4 N R Q Q Q INVENTOR E J. Stephenson BY MAL ATTO R N EY May 18 1926.

INVENTOR 13.1.5 ie oheiwon/ BY Q v ATTORNEY May 18 1926. 1,585,130

. F. J. STEPHENSON CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR Filed July 11, 1925 v Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR I? J. Staph/61250 BY Q .M

\ ATTORNEY May 18,1926; 1,585,130

F. J. STEPHENSON CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR 1925i 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 11 Ely. 8

Patented May 18, 1926.

FFTQE.

FRED J. STEPHENSON, F HANFOBD, CALIFORNIA.

CHECK WRITER AND PROTECTOR.

Application filed July 11, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for filling in blank checks, drafts and the like, and especially adapted for use by banks and other business houses in whose course of business a large number of such blanks require filling in.

At present it is customary to fill in the name of the payee and other data on the check or draft by means of an ordinary typewriter, or else by hand, the check being then placed in a separate machine to add the amount to be paid in the well known protective manner, i. e. by means of words or figures which are punched or make a definite impression in the paper rather than merely printing the data on the surface.

These two separate operations require the use of two separate machines and a consequent double handling of the check, consuming considerable time in the aggregate.

The principal object of my invention therefore is to eliminate this double handling of the checks by providing a machine by means of which the necessary typewritten data, as well as the amount of the check in the proper protective words or figures, are all placed on the check withoutmanually handling the check from beginning to end. The operation of filling in the check complete is therefore expedited, and considerable time consequently saved.

The apparatus may be made very compact, as to occupy relatively little space compared with that necessary for the two individual machines now used, and its cost may also be considerably less than that ofsaid two machines.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front View of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the right hand end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. -i is a longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 4 -4i of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4:, certain parts being removed to feature the check advancing mechanism as controlled by movement of the type bars.

Serial No. 42,384.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, with certain parts'removed to feature the check advancing mechanism as controlled by movement of the spacer bar.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4, with certain parts removed to feature the check advancing mechanism as con-e trolled by movement of the protective impression roller.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a sliding bearing mounting for said roller.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section enlarged showing a shaft pinion mountin Fig. 10 is a similar View showing a shaft ratchet wheel mounting.

Fig. 11 is a similar View showing a hand controlled means for operating the check ad vancing control shaft.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a base member of suitable dimensions, with vertical end and back plates 2 and 3 respectively projecting upwardly therefrom. These parts form the main frame of the machine.

Supported by the back member 3 and depending downwardly from the top and a certain distance in front of the same is a plate 4, extending the full length of the machine between the end frames 2. Disposed parallel to and in front of the plate 4 is a similar plate 5, the plates being spaced somewhat from each other to form a check or draft receiving slot, which is open all along the top and at the left hand or discharge end of the machine.

The top of the plate I) is somewhat lower than that of a plate 4:, and flares away from the same, so that it is easy to insert a check into the slot from above.

Intermediate their upper and lower ends the plates 4 and 5 are bent outwardly from each other to form a wider spaced portion 6, in which is vertically slidable a supporting pad 7 which extends the full length of the plates. This pad is mounted on a shaft 8 which has pinions 9 on its ends outside the frames 2. These pinions engage vertical racks 10 mounted on the frames 2, said shaft having a handle 11 on one or both ends to rotate the same and thereby cause the raising or lowering of the pad.

It will therefore be seen that a check inserted between the plates wili be supported by the pad 7, and by raising and lowering the latter, the check may be held at different levels. The portion 6 in which the pad located is widened over the space between the plates above said pad to prevent the thin check from possibly becoming; ca ight between the pad and the side plates in which it is mounted.

The check is maintained in a predetermined position the slot and prevented from undesired longitudinal mo'ement by the following means:

Mounted on the bacl: member 3 between the same and the plate i are ertical rollers 1 preferably arranged in a number of longitudinally spaced units of two rollers each. These rollers of course project through suitable slots in the plate so as to bear against a check disposed between the plates. The shafts 13 of these rollers are supper 'ed fr n the back plate 3 and extend downwardly below the plates to be rotated in the manner which will be hereinaftir set 1 Arranged to cooperate with the rollers 12 and located outside the plate are idler rollers 1 These rolle s are mean swing frame 15 which is pivoted at its lower ends, so that said frame may be drawn outwardly at its uppe end, thereby withorawing the rollers 1-i from contact wi h the rollers 12, and allowing the check to be freely inserted into or removed from the plate slot. The plate 5 is of course also slotted to enable the rollers 1 to project therethrough. A relatively weal; spring 16 is applied to the frame 15 to maintain the rollers 12 and lil in frictional e agenient, and handles 17 are mounted at the upper ends of said frame 15 to enable tl e Sc me to be readily manipulated.

ll'iounted in front of the plate 5 is a circular type-bar support 18 such as is commonly used in various makes of typewriters.

A plurality of bars 19 carrying type faces on their outer ends are pivoted in the support 18, the support and bars being; of course so arranged that when the bars are operated, they all converge to a common point internediate the top and bottom of the upper portion of the check slot. The plate 5 is cut a, at 21, where such type faces strilze when raised, so that he type 11y er gage the check. A 'ertical 7 22 is mounted behind such. out LJQJO- ment and pro ects through aole slot in the plate at, so that will be stopped by the usual hard yet resilient su a-ce behind the CllGCl'. This roller is in common with the rollers seen later.

The type bars are operated as in common typewriter practice, by key bars 23 turnably mounted on a common sup ortinpg shaft and projecting from the front of the machine in a suitable arrangemeit of two or more horizontal rows. It may here be levers preferably three on the shr tie $1.. The shafts 13 or the rollers 12 and th shaft 28 of the roller 22 are rotated Will the .ny lrey in a direction t cause epression o" e a checlr held between the rollers to vanced toward the discharge or left hand nd of the machin in the following manner: A horizontal shaft 25) extends longitudinally of the machine under the shaits Bevel gears on the lower ends of the la ter mesh with similar 31 on the shaft 29. The shaft 2-8 which is behind the line of shafts 13, is operatively connected to the shaft 29 b th by spur gearing 32 and bevel gearing All the bevel gears 31 are slidable on the shaft 29, but are maintained in driving relation therewith at all times by suitable means, sum as a transverse pin n the shaft 1 r e gear, projecting into a ongitudinal slot 35 in. the gear hub (see ig. 9). The gears are held from longitudinal displacement on the shaft by individual brack ts 36 engaging the same and secured to t e back frame 3.

Turnably mounted on the shaft 29 adjacent the center of length of the support 18, is a ratchet wheel 3?, which is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by a bracket 38 similar to the brackets This wheel is provided with a clutch face on one end normally engaged by a clutch element 39 lined on the shaft 29 (see Fig. 10). This atchet wheel is engaged by a pawl 40 mounted on an arm all which is turnable on the hub of the ratchet vheel.

Projecting over the top of the bar support 18 for a certain distance and following; the curvature thereof is a rigid strip which is stupor-ted by horizontal pins 43. These pins project r-arward y from said strip and are slidable in bearing sleeves 1 1 provided in the heel: frame 3, A rigid arm depends from said strip behind the so port 18 in transverse al'nement with t a 'm ll, and is connected thereto by a link 46. The strip is normally maintained in its forward position by compression springs 4.7 about the pin 43 (see Fig. 5). The forward edge of the strip 4-2 is normally s located as to be in the path of movement of all the type bars the latte are raised, and is engaged thereby ,and moved rearwardly when said type bars have been raised to such an extent that any two type faces, if two bars are raised at the same time, will jam together. This prevents the accidental movement of the strip by more than one type bar at a time.

hen the strip a2 is thus moved rearwardly, the ratchet wheel 47 is rotated, causing the rotation of the rollers 12 and 22 in a check advancing direction. This mechanism is so proportioned that this advancing movement will cause the type to be impressed on the check in the proper spaced relation. Upon the release of pressure on the strip 42 by the return movement of the type bars, the strip resumes its normal position by reason of the springs 47, and the pawl 40 moves over the ratchet wheel without rotating the same.

The depression of the spacer bar 26 effects a similar rotation of said rollers by reason of a ratchet wheel 48 which is mounted on the shaft 29 in the same manner as the wheel 37, and also normally engaged by a clutch elemental) fixed on the shaft 29. This ratchet wheel is engaged by a pawl 50 which is mounted on an arm 51. This arm is moved to rotate the sprocket wheel with the depression of said spacer bar by a suitable linkage 52 between the arm 51 and one of the spacer bar levers 27 (see Fig. 6).

Opposed ribbon spool supports 53 aremounted in front of the plate 5 a certain distance on each side of the opening 21 therein. Saic supports are adapted to carry ribbon spools 54: of ordinary character, the ribbon of which extends between the spools across the opening 21 in the plan of striking of the type faces (see Fig. 1). These spools are intermittently and alternately rotated by rotation of the shaft 29, to more the ribbon one way or the other, by means of a suitable shafting arrangement 56 for each spool. Such shafting for each spool consists of offset sections, connected by gearing and similar means, as indicated at 56 to bring the lower end of said shafting in vertical alinement with the shaft 29. On the lower end of each shafting is a bevel pinion 57, the pinions being alternately engaged by bevel gears 58 splined on the shaft 29. The gears 58 are connected together, so that only one at a time can engage the corresponding pinion 55, by rocker arms 59 sup ported from the base 1.. A shift rod 60 connects these two arms, said rod being shifted by means of a hand grip as illustrated at 61, or it may be done automatically as is the case with various typewriters.

It will therefore be seen that with the operation of the typewriter features, when lilling in the name and other data on the check, said check will be properly advanced from right to left; the platen roller will be rotated to prevent its becoming pitted in any one place; and the ribbon will be shifted to constantly present a fresh surface to the type.

In order to enable the matter thus typed on the check to be subsequently visible without removing said check from between the plates, the plate 5 is preferably provided with a slot 62 of considerable length and located both to one side of the opening 21 and of course in the vertical plane of the typed matter see Fig. 4:).

After the above data has been filled in the amount to be paid is then added. This could of course be done by the type, by shifting the check upwardly until the type alined with the amount space on the check, but this would not give the protective and nonerasible features now considered necessary.

I therefore provide the following structure:

Mounted in longitudinally spaced relation to each other between the left hand end frame 2, and the adjacent end of the support 18 are vertical frame members 63. These members have horizontal slots (i l whose axis is on a somewhat lower level than the slot 62. A shaft 65 is journaled in and slidable along said slots, said shaft carrying an impressionroller 66. This roller has raised amount-denoting words and other necessary characters as at 67 disposed thereon in suitable transverse and circumferentially spaced relation. (See Fig. 1.)

Links 68 are connected to the shaft 65 and extend to arms 69 depending from a horizontal shaft 70 mounted in the frames 63 parallel to the shaft 65 and in front of the same. A handle bar 71 projects'upwardly from the shaft 70, this mechanism being so arranged that when the handle is pulled toward the operator, or away from the plate 5, the roller 66 is advanced toward said plate. A slot 72 is provided in the plate 5 so that the roller may engage the check, and a pitted back plate 73 projects through the plate 4 in alinement with the slot 72, to form a rigid abutment for the movement of the roller. This form of raised word and back plate or stop arrangement is commonly used on check protecting devices, the result being that wording of a semi-perforated form is impressed in the paper. Such wording is of course colored and an ink receptacle 7% having an inking roller 75, is therefore mounted between the frames 63, the roller 75 being adapted to engage the roller 66 when the latter is retracted (see Fig. 7

A turnable knob 76 is mounted on the shaft 65 on one end of the same, so that the roller 66 may be turned to impress any desired wording on the check. This knob is peripherally marked with index numbers, as shown in Fig. -1, arranged in such relation to the wording on the roll 66 that when any index number on the knob faces the opera tor, the correspoinling wording on the roller will face toward the check.

'l o rotate the shaft s1 as to advance the check a distance not less than the length of a word on the roller 66 with the return movement of the latter, I provide the following structure:

A vertical lever 77 is pivoted intermediate its ends on one of the frames 63. The upper end of this lever arries a roller 78 which bears against the side of the shaft nearest the plate 5. A spring 79 attached to said lever not only holds the roller 78 in enit has been moved by manipulation of the Jillldlfi 71. From the lower end of the lever a linl; 80 extends to an arm 81 which is turnably mounted on the hub of a ratchet wheel 82, which in turn is turnably mounted in the shaft 29. A pawl 83 on the H1 81 engages said ratchet wheel said parts being so arranged that the wheel is only rotated with the return of the lever 7'? to its iormal position. The movement of the lever 72' is such that a rotation of the shaft 2%) is had sullicient to effect an advancing of the check a distance at least equal to the length of a word on the roller (35 with each suca movement of the lever.

A clutch member 8% is mounted on the shaft 29 and normally engages the ratchet wheel 852 to maintain the same in driving} rel tion vith the shaft. The purpose of havin the she". 29 slidable relative to the various )QVGl gears of the shaft 13, and the clutch elements to engage the various ratchet wheels instead of having;' the latter fixed on the shaft, is that it is frequently necessary to rotate the shaft one way or the other by hand, which it would otherwise be impossible to do in one direction without disengaging the pawls from their atchet wheels.

I therefore mount a turning handle 85 on the right hand end of the shaft This handle has a hub 86 provided with longitudii'ially spaced rows of circumferentially spaced sockets or notches 87 to receive a spring pressed pin or pawl 88 mounted in the adjacent end frame 3 (see Fig. 11). A spring); 89 acts on the shaft to norn'ially hold the various clutch elements engaged with their respective ratchet wheels.

ll hcn it is desired to rotate the shaft by hand in a check advancing direction, this may of course be done without pulling the shaft out, since the *arious ratchet wheels then rotate freely under their pawls. 'lo reverse the direction of said shaft it must be pulled out until the member 88 engages the inner row of sockets. This will disen- 'e the clutch elements from the ratchet and the latter will not he n'iove; perthe shaft to freely turn. The dif ferent bevel gears however still remain in the shaft is rotated a distance su'llicient to 7 advance the check the length of one type s 321 39.

In operation the check to be filled in is placed in the right hand end of the slot be tween the plates from the top thereof, the frame 15 being pulled out so as to separate the rollers 14 from the rollers 12. The :hecl; then rests on the supporting pad 7, and the latter if necessary is moved ip or down by turning the handle 11, still holding the frame '5 out, until the space on the check in which the name of the payee etc. is to be filled in will be at the proper level relative to the type. The frame 15 is then released so that the rollers engage the check, and the latter is then advanced by the hand relation of the shaft 25) if necessary until said space to be filled in occupies: the proper po sition lengthwise relative to the opening 21.

The data is then filled in by manipulation of the type in the usual manner.

This done, the check is again shifted if necessary as before, to properly aline the space in which the amount is to be filled in with the impression roller (56. The handle 71 is then manipulated the necessary number of times to impress the ncc ry data on the check. The latter may then be removed, either from above or from the left hand end of the checl' slot, upon pulling out the frame 15 as before to separate the re lers.

It is to be understood that while l have here shown and described a. certain ar angry ment of the different features and :1 cc 'tain form ofoperating and connectingmechanism between the different parts, such arrangement and HIQCllzUllSll'lS are capable to a great extent of being altered without in the least affecting my invention.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that l have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

ll hile this specification sets forth in dc tail the present and preferred OllSii'LlClilOli of the device, still in practice such deviatiorn; from such detail may be resorted to asdo no" form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for filling in checks and the ion like comprising supporting means for the check, manually operable bars having type faces for enabling data to be typed on the check while thus supported, an impression roller whose surface is provided with data in the form of words to be impressed on the check, mounted in connection with the supporting means to one side of the type-bars, means for enabling said roller to be moved into engagement with the check at will, a mechanism for advancing the check longitudinally in the supporting means, means for actuating said mechanism to advance the check a distance not less than the width of a type-face when the type-bars are actuated, and means for actuating said mechanism to advance the check a distance not less than the length of a word on the roller when the latter is actuated.

2. A machine for filling in checks and the like comprising supporting means for the check, manually operable bars having type faces for enabling data to be typed on the check while thus supported, an impression roller whose surface is provided with other data to be impressed on the check, mounted in connection with the supporting means to one side of the typebars, means for enabling said roller to be moved into engagement.

with the check at will, a mechanism for advancing the check longitudinally in the supporting means, such mechanism including transverse pairs of vertical rollers between which the check is held, shafts extending from one row of such rollers, a horizontal shaft operatively connected to all said first named shafts, means for turning said horizontal shaft a certain amount when any type bar is moved to engage the check, and means for turning said horizontal shaft a greater amount when the impression roller is actuated.

3. A machine for filling in checks and the like comprising supportin means for the check, manually operable bars having type faces for enabling data to be typed on the check while thus supported, an impression roller whose surface is provided with data in the form of words to be impressed on the check, mounted in connection with the supporting means to one side of the type-bars, means for enabling said roller to he moved into engagement with the check at will, a mechanism fbr advancing the check longitudinally in the supporting means, independently operating means for actuating said mechanism to advance the check when any type bar and the impression roller are actuated, and hand operated means for enabling said mechanism to be actuated to move the check in either direction without disturbing said type bar and roller operat ing means.

4.. A machine for filling in checks and the like comprising vertical and transversely spaced plates forming a slot for the reception of a check, transversely spaced and vertically disposed rollers projecting through the plates to frictionally engage the check, certain ones of said rollers being rotatable for moving the check longitudinally, a vertically movable pad disposed between the plates for supporting the bottom of the check, means mounted in fixed relation to the plates for imprinting data on the check, means operable at will for raising and lowering the pad to enable the check to be alined vertically with respect to the imprinting means, and means for enabling the frictional engagement of the rollers with the check to be released at will to permit the check to follow the movement of the pad.

5. A structure as in claim 4, in which said last named means comprises a frame independent of the plates pivoted longitudinally thereof and in which one of the sets of rollers is mounted, handle means for moving said frame to draw the rollers thereon away from the other rollers, and spring means tending to move the frame in the opposite direction.

6. A machine for filling in checks and the like including vertical and transversely spaced plates to receive a check in an upstanding position, means arranged in connection with the plates for imprinting data on a check located therebetween, and a vertically movable pad between the plates for supporting the check; the space between the plates for the extent of movement of the pad being increased but substantially centralized relative to the spacing above and the pad fitting snugly between the plates in such increased space, whereby to prevent the bottom of the check catching between the pad and plates.

7 A structure as in claim 2, in which said first named horizontal shaft turning means comprises a ratchet wheel on the shaft, a pawl engaging the ratchet and a lever mechanism between said pawl and the type-bar structure; and said last named horizontal shaft turning means comprises an independ ent ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl engaging said ratchet wheel, and a lever mechanism between said pawl and the impressionroll operating means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRED J. STEPHENSON. 

